The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-12-02
Farmers Meetings.

Farmers Meetings.
In order to have interesting meetings
of Farmers Clubs, Alliances or Oranges,
the matter must be given thought. 1t
will not answer to come together aim
lessly.. A committee should be appoint.
ed to arrange the program of meetings
and announce them a week ahead.
There are certainly questions enough
that need discussion. The political
questions are always proper. We do
not mean by that partisan questions.
Those in which the farmer is most in
terested are in no sense partisan. There
is not one single demand that the farm.
er makes that is in the slightest degree
partisan. Any party can take up his
demands and grant them without the
least offense to its partisan dogmas.
Therefore let US discuss such questions,
and the attitude of all the parties
toward them. But outside of such
questions are the practical matters Of
farm life, co operation, etc. No tody
Of men in the world can SO readily en-.
tertain themselves as farmers.
The winter season is the most favor
able season for meetings 10 the country.
The nights are long and it is real
pleasure for country people to meet
weekly at some convenient central point
listen to and take part 10 an interesting
and we'll contested discussion. Country
debating societies are very popular
where they are conducted with spirit,
and every one who has attended these
trials of native eloquence, remembers
with what keen relish he has enjoyed
we'll contested discussion, especially
where the debaters had taken pains to
inform themselves on the subject under
discussion.
Neighborhood farmers clubs some
thing after the manner of the lyceum
Or debating society could be, and should
be, formed in every rural neighborhood
where the population is sufficiently
numerous to make clever meeting
without having to travel more than two
or three miles at fartherst. What a
multitude Of important questions are at
hand offering subjects for profitable dis.
cussion! Such clubs or associations
should admit both sexes to membership,
and in the summer season they could be
partially discontinued, or hold meetings
once a month omitting the harvest
month, as the Farmers Clubs do, and
in place of the Farmer Club estate"
dinner,-which debars many farmers
from becoming members of such asso.
Citations, let the meetings take the form
of a basket pic mic, and meet at the
houses of the members or in conven.
lent groves. This arrangement would
relieve the good wife from the care and
anxiety of preparing formal dinner,
and the many advantages which this
system would have over the present
somewhat select and exclusive one in
vogue, are apparent. on moments re-
Election. More members could belong
to club Of this kind. A pleasant SO
cial meeting would be afforded to the
entire family of the members, larger
number of visitors could be invited,
and on stated occasions professional
speakers could be employed. In short
the scope OF field for such associations
or clubs affords an almost unlimited
capacity for both social enjoyment and
beneficial instruction. Try it farmers.
We think your minds and pockets both
would soon feel the benefit derived from
such organizations.
--%<ob%-
National Grange.